Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-03

with delight, shaking all tho wnilc with an
inward joy that his habits of caution would
not permit him TO give audible vent TO. Ills
mothers voice, his mothers words +" he quoted
to himself. GLOW should he know that Jautie
remembers the old woman's voice-ay, and
the words that the devil in ser spoke tcoa
Heel Heel Heel"
Bessie fled without stopping till she reached
the orange trees in front of the veranda,
where, treasured by the lights from tho win.
dows, she paused to consider. Not that she
was troubled by Jantjes mysterious bowling.
indeed, she was too preoccupied to give it a
second thought. What she was debating was
whether she should say anything about her
encounter with Frank Muller. After pausing
for few seconds to pick a branch of orange
blossom and to become herself generally,
which, not being Historically inclined, she
| very soon did, she quietly entered the house
as though nothing had happened. The very
| first person she met was John himself, who
had come in by the back way. He laughed
at her orange blossom bouquet, and said that
it was most appropriate, and then proceeded
to embrace her tenderly in the passage; and
indeed he would have been a poor sort of
lover if he had not It was exactly at this
| juncture that old Silas Croft happened to
| open the sitting room door and come lull upon
| this tender and attractive tableau.
"Well, 1 neverl" said the old gentleman.
"What is the meaning of all this, Bessie"
or course there was nothing for it but to
come in and explain the facts of the cese,
which John did with much humming and
ha-ing and general awkwardness of manner
that battles description, while Bessie stood by,
her hand upon her lovers shoulder, blushing
| as red as any rose
The old man listened in silence till John
had finished-a smile upon his face and
kindly twinkle IN his keen eyes.
| 49," he said, "that is what you young
people have been after, is itl l suppose that
you want to enlarge your interests in the
farm, eh, John' Well, upon my word, don't
blame you; you might have gone farther and
| Jared worse These sort of things never come
singly it seems 1 had another request for
your hand, my dear, only this afternoon from
that scoundrel Frank Muller, of all men in
the world, (" and his face darkened as he said
| the name, 81 sent him off with flea in his
ear, can tell you. Had | known then what
| | know now | should have referred him to
John. There, therel He is a bad man and
dangerous man, but let him be. He is taking
| plenty of rope and he will hang himself one
of these days. Well, my dears this is the
best bit of news that have heard for MANY
long day. 1t Is time you got married. both
of you, for il is not right for man to live
alone, or woman either. | have done it all
my life, and that is the conclusion | have
come to after thinking the matter over some.
where about fifty years. Yes, you have my
consent and my blessing, too; and you will
have something more one day before so very
| long. Take her, John, take her | have led
a rough life, but l have seen something of
women for all Of that, and l tell you that
| there is not a sweeter or better or prettier
| woman in south Africa than Bessie Croft
and in wanting to marry her you have shown
| your sense. God bless you both, my dears
And now, Bessie, come and give your old
| uncle kiss. | hope that you won't let John
quite drive me out of your head; that's all.
For you see, my dear, having no children OF
my own, have managed to get very fond of
you in the last twelve years or so.'
Bessie came and kissed the old man,ten.
Derby
mo, uncle" she said, neither John nor
anybody nor anything in the world can do
that" and it was evident from her manner
| that she meant what she said Bessie had
| large heart, and was not at all the person to
| let her lover drive her uncle and btnefactor
out of his share of it.